Gel 'will end the misery of acne'
A scientist says he can develop a gel which will provide effective treatment of acne without side-effects.
Professor Keith Holland, of the University of Leeds,
said tests showed a virus commonly found on skin could
kill the bacteria responsible for acne.
Dermatologists backed the research, but noted it was
only at an early stage.
The findings come as a survey for the Acne Support
Group showed children suffering from it were often
missing out on schooling as a result.
Current treatments either have side-effects or involve
antibiotics which, if used too much, create resistant
strains.
Certain types of contraceptive pill are sometimes
prescribed to alter hormonal levels responsible for the
acne.
The Acne Support Group survey of 563 people found 40%
of school children with acne suffered a loss of
concentration on their studies as a result.
And 20% took time off school.
Among adults, 83% said their self-confidence was
affected and 80% felt depressed because of the
condition.
Professor Holland, a microbiologist at the Leeds Skin
Research Centre, hopes to use a bacteria-specific
virus, called a bacteriophage, which is commonly found
on human skin.
Tests showed it attacked the bacteria responsible for
acne, Professor Holland said.
He hopes to start clinical trials, testing the
treatment on patients, in the summer.
Professor Holland said: "We are thinking of the future.
We think a possible answer is the use of bacteriophage.
"We want to make a gel which contains the bacteriophage
which we can put in a higher concentration on the
skin."
Because it is naturally present, he believes there will
not be a toxic side-effect in using it as a treatment.
Alison Dudley, of the Acne Support Group, said new
therapies were needed.
Dark ages
"We are still in the dark ages with acne," she said.
Professor Holland does not yet have funding for the
clinical trials he hopes to run.
Professor Michael Davis, of Central Connecticut State
University's department of biological sciences, is
carrying out similar research into the use of
bacteriophage.
He said: "If you are treating bacterial diseases on the
outside of people, I think they are a natural thing to
use."
Dr Debra Jaliman, a spokeswoman for the American
Academy of Dermatology, said there was not yet
widespread research into the use of bacteriophage, but
that it could be a positive development for the future.
She said: "It could be a big breakthrough. There are so
many acne sufferers that it is something that is
definitely needed."
